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Early Onset ALS

ALS is an illness with symptoms similar to other diseases, and the initial signs can seem so small and insignificant they are easy to overlook. The disease, however, is progressive and ultimately fatal.

  1. Description

    • ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As ALS progresses, it results in paralysis and eventually death.

    Physical Symptoms

    • The first symptoms of ALS are usually muscle weakness in the arms, hands or legs as well as in the muscles used in speech, swallowing or breathing. Muscles may twitch and cramp up, particularly in the hands or feet. A person may have "thick" speech or difficulty projecting his voice.

    Behavioral Symptoms

    • Every ALS patient's initial symptoms are different. A person may trip over carpet edges, have trouble going up or coming down stairs, find it difficult to button a shirt, slur her speech or be very fatigued.

    Onset Statistics

    • According to EvenBetterNow.com, 60 percent of ALS patients start out with muscle weakness. Twenty-five percent begin with speech and breathing difficulties. About 50 percent have initial symptoms in their arms, and 25 percent show initial symptoms in their legs.

    Diagnosis

    • ALS can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms resemble multiple sclerosis, HIV, Lyme disease and other illnesses. A series of tests helps diagnose ALS, including blood work, an electromyogram (a test that measures the electrical signals in the muscles), respiratory testing and a muscle biopsy.

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